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18 Amazing Picture Books You Won’t Mind Reading Over and Over Again

by Devon A. Corneal

A while back, I wrote a piece about how reading the same story over and over again is great for your kids. What is great for kids, however, can drive parents absolutely bonkers. Hearing the same story every single night for a month can make even the most bookish parent want to give up reading forever. One way to stave off boredom and make sure you still enjoy sharing stories with your kids? Having a host of board and picture books at your fingertips. We’ve collected some tried-and-true, parent-loved read-aloud favorites for you, so all you have to do is sit back and start reading!

The classics are classics because they satisfy our every desire. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has it all — a simple story, gorgeous illustrations, sturdy flaps for little hands, and an adorable animal every child can relate to.

This story will resonate with picky eaters and adults alike. Turning the usual aversion to vegetables on its head, Amy Krouse Rosenthal introduces us to Little Pea, who has to eat candy for every meal. Something about a character who only wants to eat spinach never gets old.

Food and read-aloud books are like peanut butter and jelly — the perfect combination of sweet and satisfying. Leslie Patricelli is the queen of board books for the youngest readers, who will squeal with delight at the simple text and silly pictures in this story. Read this one with some of your favorite yummy snacks.

This is Mark Pett’s book. From page one he lets you, the reader, know that he is in control. Then he draws Percy the Perfectly Polite Panda (who prefers to be called Spike) who has his own ideas about how this story will go. A silly, interactive read-aloud with some delightfully unexpected book elements, this book is just plain fun!

Expect to hear cries of "again!" from your little ones when you reach the last page of La Princesa and the Pea. You won't mind granting their request — this bilingual retelling is as fun to read aloud as it is to listen to thanks to its charming rhymes, fun rhythms, and great illustrations.

Long before Press Here, The Monster at the End of This Book encouraged kids to participate in reading. Grover warns kids over and over not to turn the next page for fear of meeting a monster, which, of course, only encourages them to.

Fifty years and counting and Where the Wild Things Are is still one of my favorite stories. Joining childhood tantrums with magical nighttime adventures makes for a delightful and mischievous book that you won’t mind reading out loud over and over again.

Obviously, a picture book without pictures is going to be a fabulous read. This book requires energy, enthusiasm, and a willingness to look (and sound) silly. Go ahead, dive right in and see how often your kids start to demand this one at storytime.

Miss Spider just wants to invite her friends over for tea, but all the other insects keep running away. The exuberant illustrations and rhyming text help little counters learn their numbers and the value of friendship.

There’s always a little drama and an important lesson in Llama Llama books, and this one is no different. The cadence of this story makes it perfect for reading aloud, and the story is one attention-seeking children will understand and grow to love.

Losing your favorite stuffed animal is never easy, as Trixie is about to learn. But with a little help from her parents, Trixie hopes to be reunited with her beloved Knuffle Bunny very soon. Children will love the blend of photographs and cartoon images, and the vibrant expressions on the characters’ faces makes this a fun read for adults too.

Have you ever been reading to your kids and they interrupt you? Not once, but multiple times? Doesn’t that make you nuts? If so, this is the story for you. Kids will smile in recognition when you tell them the story of one very excited chicken who just can’t seem to stay quiet.

In a tall house in Paris, all covered with vines, you’ll find the precocious and independent Madeline — part adventurer, part little girl who brings spunk and confidence to her little corner of the world. I dare you not to memorize this story along with your kids.

What would happen if one day, all the crayons up and quit? No more coloring! No more drawings! No more homemade birthday cards! Hopefully, young Duncan can figure out why the crayons left and how to get them back. Hilarious and captivating, The Day the Crayons Quit will definitely become a read-aloud favorite.

You have fellow Brightly contributor, Iva-Marie Palmer, to thank for this recommendation; she warned that to read it properly you have to channel Laurence Olivier, Morgan Freeman, and Oprah for just the right amount of gravitas and magic. I agree — it’s a gorgeous and inspiring story that harkens back to the days of reading by candlelight when stories could only be told orally.